The court heard he stabbed Mr Taddi to death in the victim’s home on Kimberley Street, Hartlepool in an attack spanning several hours on July 18 to 19 last year.

His defence seek to prove it is more likely than not that Fathi, formerly of Grange Road, Hartlepool, suffered an “abnormality of mind” impairing his responsibility, reducing the crime to manslaughter.

Defence experts, forensic psychiatrists Dr Rajesh Nadkarni and Dr Keith Rix, said Fathi showed features of post traumatic stress disorder and personality disorder after a reported traumatic history including abduction and repeated rape in Iran.

Dr Nadkarni believed Fathi suffered from an abnormality of mind on the night of the killing. Dr Rix said Fathi was unable to exercise self-control leading to a frenzied attack.

The Crown also called two consultant forensic psychiatrists to give evidence.

Dr Stephen Barlow agreed Fathi had a personality disorder but he did not think he had an abnormal state of mind at the time of the killing.

Dr Phillip Brown said yesterday he did not think Fathi was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and there was not enough evidence to make a diagnosis of personality disorder.